Divljana

Divljana
Village
Divljana Monastery
Divljana Monastery
Divljana is located in Serbia
Divljana
Divljana
Coordinates: 43°10′38″N 22°18′16″E / 43.17722°N 22.30444°E / 43.17722; 22.30444
Country Serbia
DistrictPirot
MunicipalityBela Palanka
Population
 (2002)
 • Total
141
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Divljana (Serbian: Дивљана) is a village in the municipality of Bela Palanka, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 141 people.[1] Divljana Monastery is one of the landmarks in Divljana.

Zapis oak

Zapis tree, Divljana Old Oak

There is a large old oak tree in Divljana that is a zapis ("inscription"), a village tree considered sacred. In a custom originating in pre-Christian Slavic mythology, a large tree, usually an oak, would have a cross carved into its bark, and would serve as a temple. Oak trees were sanctified in the settlements which had no church of their own. Experts from the Niš Institute for the natural protection estimated that it sprouted in c. 1400.[2]

The trunk is completely open and hollow on one side. Inside, eight adults can fit, or a table and chairs. The tree, a durmast oak, is under state protection as a natural monument. Circumference of the Divljana oak trunk (as of 2017) is 6.35 m (20.8 ft), diameter is 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in), while the diameter of the crown is 23.13 m (75.9 ft). The tree is 13.43 m (44.1 ft) tall.[2]

References

  1. ^ Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i Stanova 2002. Knjiga 1: Nacionalna ili etnička pripadnost po naseljima. Republika Srbija, Republički zavod za statistiku Beograd 2003. ISBN 86-84433-00-9
  2. ^ a b Zoran Stojanović (27 November 2017), "Ima li leka za hrast u selu Divljana" [Is there a remedy for the oak in the village of Divljana], Politika (in Serbian), p. 23
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Divljana.

43°10′38″N 22°18′16″E / 43.17722°N 22.30444°E / 43.17722; 22.30444

Stub icon

This Pirot District, Serbia location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.